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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Game changers. Glam girls. Power players. Beauty with Brains. Here's to the resourceful, sensitive, soulful, gracious and confident women of Bollywood. They are the heart, face and soul of an industry. And yet, they lead their lives and career on their own terms and conditions. Whether it's respect, remuneration or reputation, they aren't second to anybody.

In Bollywood many actresses take challenging role here Actress Sasha Agha Khan recently join the list of brave actress. Sasha Agha Khan will seen in her action packed performance where she will be seen with guns onscreen and raising temperature is upped by quite a few degrees. But the new bee Sasha is not so familiar with Guns so Actor Suniel Shetty who is returning as an Army man who also doubles up as a shooting coach will become tutor for the lovely lady. Anna Suniel Shetty has a very pivotal role in the film. He is the one who spots my two key protagonists in the film, played by Akhil Kapur and Jay Bhanushali. DESI KATTEY movie is based on the world of gangsters and sports amalgamate to meet a common destination.

Excited Sasha Agha Khan said, "Guns are my secret desire and working with the master of action Suniel Shetty is really fun. I was little bit nervous but when you get tutor like Suniel sir nothing is impossible."

Gurgaon’s budding tennis prodigy 14 year old Jennifer Luikham has won her second carrier ITF U18 Singles title at YMCA TTT - ITF Juniors Grade 4 tournament held at Chennai Today August 30th 2014 by defeating Nandini Sharma 6-3 1-6 6-2 in finals.

Jennifer sailed smoothly to finals without loosing a set. She beat Arushi Kakkar 6-3 6-3 in round 2, Tanushri Vale 6-4 6-4 in pre quarters, Chinese YeXin Ma 6-3 6-3 in quarters and former U16 national champion Vanshika Sahanai 6-1 6-1 in semi finals. This win will help her move to below 350 rank in ITF Juniors worldwide. Jennifer had earlier won her first ITF Junior title at grade 5 tournament at Indore in April 2014.

Jennifer, student of class 9 at Little Angel Sr Secondary School at Sonipat is training under India’s most prolific coach Aditya Sachdeva at Team Tennis’s high performance academy at Siri Fort in New Delhi

Jain Religion, one of the oldest religion in the world, has its own significance and is widely known for its non-violence - अहिंसा परमो धर्मं : - live and let live - which has its recognition in the Indian Spiritualism.

Daslakshan parva-- दसलक्षण पर्व is celebrated by the Jain Community for self -purification and upliftment is meant to adhere to the ten universal virtues in practical life and leads us on the right path, far from the mad strife for material prosperity, which ultimately leads us to our destination i.e. salvation . This is the festival through which an attempt is made to put an end to all vices, passions and lustful desires in thought, speech and action. This is the festival in which ten universal virtues like forgiveness, contentment and self-restraint are venerated and worshipped for self -purification.

In this festival one mediates upon the inherent virtues of the soul in thought, speech and action or one attains peace of soul i.e. celestial peace .Besides this, in this festival an attempt is made to obtain peace discarding passions and lustful desires through various means and observe harmony in the soul through the study of scriptures. Jain community not only in India but in the whole world celebrates this पर्व annually to subdue all passion and lustful desires. It gives us an expression to the perfectly purified trait of the soul, through which one gets rid of worldly disorders and allurements and one gets fully absorbed in the eternal truth on experiencing and realizing the true nature of soul. In other words, we can say the natural realization of the trio ' सत्यम ,शिवम् , सुंदरम ' is fully possible only through Das lakshan parva. This festival puts an end to all evils gives us realization of the eternal bliss, and spiritualism becomes alive by the celebration of this festival.

When the auspicious month of 'Bhadrapad' (भाद्र पद ) comes every year, the whole Jain community celebrates this festival without any difference of high and low, rich and poor. The दिगम्बर and श्वेताम्बर both sects of Jain community celebrates the self uplifting festival with great enthusiasm. During the Bhadrapada—Asvina month i.e. generally in the month of August--September, Jain community observes Das Lakshan Parva, not only in India but also in the whole world. This parva purifies our soul and deeds. It has a great significance and importance in our life. The family members of the Jain community celebrate this parva for ten days. During these ten days from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami to अनंत चतुर्दशी , Jains observe fast in various forms and give alms (Daan दान ). They leave certain things –Tyag- त्याग ) and observe strictly the principles of the parva. Each day of the parva has its own importance.

Dash Lakshan Parva is a festival of ten virtues observed by the Jains for 10 days (This year from September 9th to September18, 2013 ). During these 10 days they strictly observe the following ten dharma as written in Tattvarthdhigama Sutra ch. IX, sloka 6 by Acharya Umaswami.

The ten universal virtues of the daslakshan parva - दसलक्षणपर्व -- are

Uttam Satya Dharma -- उत्तमसत्य धर्म(Truthfulness) - To speak affectionate and just words with a holy intention causing no injury to any living being.

Uttam Sanyam Dharma -- उत्तमसंयम धर्म (Self-restraint) - To defend all living beings with utmost power in a cosmopolitan spirit abstaining from all the pleasures provided by the five senses - touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing; and the sixth - mind.

Uttam Brahmachary Dharmaउत्तम ब्रहमचर्य धर्म -- (Chastity or celibacy) - To observe the great vow of celibacy; to have devotion for the inner soul and the omniscient Lord; to discard the carnal desires, vulgar fashions, child and old-age marriages, dowry dominated.

Jains salute and pray for these virtues. By saluting the virtues, we only receive inspiration for right path, true happiness and total freedom from worldly miseries of life.

The Jain community celebrates this festival with great zeal and joy and austerities viz.self-meditaion, doing penance, fasting and study of Holy Scriptures are performed during the parva. The house holders purged their soul by keeping fast on the last day on the parva and celebrate the closing ceremony with great pump and show. When the ten day celebrations are over, this festival leaves behind its deep impression on the mind and heart of every Jain-young or old. " क्षमा वाणी दिवस " -a special function --is organized on the tenth day .It carries a message to all living and non-living creatures in the world to 'FORGIVE Ourselves or the 'deeds we have done either knowingly or un-knowingly if such deeds have ever given you any pain or hurt the feelings.'

This is one of the most important festivals of Jain celebrated throughout the world. Its origin is related to the staying of the monks in one place for the rainy season. " पर्यूषण " is staying of the monks in one place. In popular terminology this stay is termed "chaturmasa" (चातुर्मास ) because the rainy season is regarded to be about four months. However the minimum duration of Paryushana is regarded to be 70 days. For this minimum duration, Paryushanaa must be initiated by पंचमी . (fifth day) of the शुक्ल पाख of the Bhadrapada month. In the scriptures it is described that Lord Mahavira used to start Paryushana on Bhadrapada शुक्ल पंचमी .

In fact daslakshan (ten virtues) Parva or the Festival of ten virtues is the Paryushan festival celebrated by the Digambar Jains annually for self-purification and uplift. This parva ultimately leads us to our true destination i.e., salvation. All digambar jain celebrate this Parva for ten days. It is the festival for the observance of ten universal virtues; viz., forgiveness, contentment, and celibacy, which aim at the uplift of the soul and are vividly preached and practiced during the festival.
क्षमावाणी – a day of forgiveness

At the conclusion of the festival, the sravakas ( श्रावक ) request each other for forgiveness for all offenses committed during the last year.

In fact, Jainism is a prehistoric religion propounded by the first. तीर्थंकर भगवान् आदिनाथ जी . Upon all these grounds we think that the celebration of Daslaksah parva is holy tradition coming down from the ancient past to the modern times. To sum up this parva is a grand Jain festival of self -introspection, self-realization, self -enlightenment and self -achievement, which ultimately lead to one and only one final goal i.e. liberation or salvation. Das Lakshan Parva is the most suitable occasion for giving donations and charities and on the last day of the festival the house -holders observe full day fast and make every attempt to donate to religious and social installations in cash or kind within their capacity.

The festival has its own age-old history, but nothing definite can be said about its origin and since when it is being celebrated. The truth is that spiritual matters like self -purification and renunciation cannot be measured by time scale.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Residents of Dwarka, the sub-city of Delhi have complained about the harmful effects of polluted waster of the drain passing by the side of the sub-city.

The residents of Sector 3 which is nearest to the drain have stated that some of them have developed severe asthma. A part of the uncovered drain flows near the area, giving off terrible rotten eggs’ like smell and is also the breeding ground for mosquitoes. Others have stated that since the water of the drain has sulphuric acid content it causes degeneration of the home appliances like AC’s and washing machines. The copper wires get corroded very soon needing replacement and re-filling of gas in the air conditioners. These have to be replaced two to three years and causing huge recurring loss to the resident of the area. They have pointed that they have approached the DDA authorities, written to the politician and also the Ministry of health and urban development, but without any fruitful results. They have even suggested that in order to minimize the harmful health effects the authorities should resort more plantation in the area so that the pollution of the air is the barest minimum. But the problem has been aggravated by the order of the National Green Tribunal that storm water drains should not be covered. This has followed the advice of the NGT committee headed by a IIT Professor that the covering of the storm-water-drains leads to trapping of toxic gases and worsens pollution. It may be mentioned that DDA has earlier covered such a drain near Dwarka and made the road over it which has been greatly appreciated be the residents. That is another matter that it took several years as it was involved in many bureaucratic and other hassles including the environmental clearance.

The above reminds of A Civil Action, a 1999 motion picture starring John Travolta, which told America the tragic story of twelve children diagnosed with leukemia in Woburn, Massachusetts between 1969 and 1979. The parents suspected that their children contacted cancer because they drank water supplied by contaminated city wells closed in 1979. The plaintiffs faced a burden of proving that the defendants actually and approximately caused their injuries. The expert evidence was inadequate to hold the defendants liable. The jury absolved the holding company of all liability and held the subsidiary company of negligence leading to a settlement for much lower amount of compensation. In another film, In Erin Brockovich, the single mother, played by Julia Roberts, succeeded in law suit against a company which found to be polluting water.

Toxic chemicals and pesticides are a menace to the health and environment. Some of the toxic chemicals and pesticides are called the Persistent Organic Pollutants. Some of them include the DDT etc. The nature of these chemicals is that they are carbon based synthetic chemicals and pesticides which has a tendency to persist in the environment for long period and may be for years. They do not degenerate even in the earth and their life is very long. Through the media like water and air they enter the food chain and harm the health of human beings, animals and plant life. POPs are chemical substances with common properties of toxicity, persistence, bio-accumulation and potential for long-range environmental transport. These toxics travel up through the food chain. On entering the body systems, they cause slow and irreversible damage to them.These have been found even the bodies of the polar bears and the milk of Inuit mothers in the Arctic. Some of the POPs are produced intentionally and others like Dioxin unintentionally from various sources like burning and production of steel etc. DDT and PCBs’ residues remain in the soil for long years and are found in the fish, birds, reptiles and animals. Such substances contaminate the human environment and accumulate in the tissues of plants and the germ cells to shatter or alter the very basis of heredity. There is perpetual veil of ignorance whereas the rivers and lakes are contaminated. Fetuses are exposed to them through the mothers and finally through foods, water and air. Exposure in adults is linked to cardiovascular disease, endocrine disruptions, breast cancer and leukemia. People consuming wild food, large fish, and marine mammals and at high latitudes have high exposure.

The problem of POPs is in fact global, requiring cooperation of the States at the international level for their elimination and control. As such the United Nations had adopted Stockholm Convention on POPs in 2001 which directs the states to target elimination of toxic chemicals and pesticides. The main source of such substances is hazardous wastes. Their movement across national boundaries had become a serious international problem and the developing countries had become the dumping ground for the wastes of developed countries. Accordingly, international movement of hazardous wastes was sought to be regulated by the Hazardous Waste Convention 1989 and subsequently also developed a Liability Protocol for compensation to be paid for harm caused due to accident on account of movement of hazardous wastes. Rotterdam Convention 1998 also targeted the regulation toxic chemicals and pesticides across national boundaries. All these treaties, however, allow compensation to be paid due an accident caused. The Stockholm Convention has not developed any liability protocol. Focus is only on injury caused by the accidents.

The harm caused by these chemicals and pesticides take time even years to manifest. The infection may have been caused years ago and take time to appear in the form a disease. If an infection is caused in normal course the insurance policies also do not cover the damage caused to the health in the form of slow poisoning. Insurance companies insist that when the infection is caused or the injury is caused as a result of an accident the claim is maintainable. They are supported by the Supreme Court judgment in Sandeep Kumar Chowrasia V. Divisional Manager, New India Assurance Company where a distinction has been made between an injury due to an accident and the one due to long term harm caused by the chemicals and pesticides. The insurance policy allows a claim only if the harm or loss is due to complications arising out of the accident. This means that there must be some nexus between the accident and the loss. In the environmental law cases also the apex court has laid down the absolute liability principle making the holder of hazardous premises absolutely liable for any damage or injury caused as a result of accident. Here also liability is based on the accident.

But in the cases like that of damage to Taz Mahal by the fumes of Mathura refinery the apex court issued directions to take steps avoid damage to the historical building by polluting substances. In the developing countries, the individuals suffering damage to health or getting injured due to harmful toxic substances can sue the producers of such substances if the there was evidence that damage or injury was caused by them. The standard laid down by the courts was that the harmful effects of such substances were the proximate cause of the said damage or injury. However, establishing such incriminatory evidence is a difficult task requiring expert evidence which is hard to come by. But this route of seeking remedy is worth the effort. The Agent Orange Litigation in the United States is an instance of successful story of getting compensated as a result of sustained judicial process and subsequent negotiating process.

In the nuisance cases, like the one existing in the form of the polluted storm water drain, the civic agencies which are responsible to maintain it in proper form to avoid unhealthy conditions are also legal liable for any damage or injury caused the health and the environment. The citizens have a legally enforceable right to pollution free environment.

The first AIFF Club Licensing Workshop for the 2014/15 Football season successfully took place at the AIFF Headquarters, Football House, New Delhi, on Friday, August 29.

Present on the occasion were officials from AFC (Asian Football Confederation), as well as, representatives from the I-League Clubs including new entrants Kalyani Group, who are to participate in the upcoming season. Mr. Sunando Dhar, CEO, I-League, also graced the occasion.

The objective of the workshop was to give the Clubs an insight into different aspects of the game, both on-and-off the field. The discussions dealt on marketing and promotion of the Clubs, match day activities, operations, roles of support staff and other relevant issues.

Speaking on the success of the workshop, Dhar said: “It is great to see nine out of 11 clubs having the AFC license today. Licensing has definitely got the clubs together.

“Stronger the I-League clubs become, the stronger AIFF becomes. The stronger you (the Clubs) become, the league becomes stronger.” “Remember, you have to represent India in Asia.”

Mr. Windsor John, Deputy General Secretary, AFC, also Head of Competitions, asserted the importance of the Club Licensing, and mentioned AFC’s commitment to help improve football in India. “First of all, I congratulate I-League for conducting this workshop,” Mr. John said.

“Club Licensing is a very important feature in the AFC Champions League assignment. The Clubs need to understand that this is not a policing license, but a license to develop.

“Hence, I ask all the clubs to embrace it. India has got tremendous potential. Small steps, a long-term plan, and the right people, can take it a long way.”

Mr. Mahajan Nair, Head of Club Licensing, AFC highlighted club development with special significance on the AFC development program – the Kick Off project. Furthermore, Mr. Javed Siraj, newly appointed Integrity Officer of the AIFF, stressed on match integrity highlighting on the menace of match fixing and betting.

The event was also used to hand over the AFC Certificates to the nine I-League Clubs (except new entrants Royal Wahingdoh FC and the Kalyani Group-owned team) who successfully fulfilled the Indian Club Licensing criteria for the 2014/15 season.

“Club Licensing is a very good initiative for India. It has done wonders for the game”, said R.A.J Gomes, General Secretary, Salgaocar FC.

Mr. John also conducted an interactive session on match day operations and the role of LGC’s (Local General Coordinators) for matches, where he explained the do’s and don’ts for match days and the responsibilities of the Clubs and the support staff. AFC Head of Marketing Operations, Mr. Yong-Chul Yun complemented it by speaking on match day promotions.

Defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC were represented by Mr. Dhruv Nagarkatti, who also spoke on match day operations and other promotional activities, via a vivid audio-visual presentation.

McDowell Mohun Bagan, who recorded the highest supporters attendance count for an I-League club last season, appointed Mr. Debashish Dutta, to speak on the attendance of I-League clubs.

Meanwhile, Shillong Lajong FC representatives Mr. Habamutlang Lyngdoh and Mr. Nikhil Sharma spoke about the marketing and promotion of I-League Clubs. They gave an overview of their Club’s brand philosophy and the football scenario in the North-East. “We want to make sure that talent coming from North-East plays for Shillong Lajong FC,” said Nikhil.

A brief history of the Club, the grassroots development programs, the community building initiatives, the interactions with fans, and other details were touched upon. Dhar thanked all the AFC delegates, and also informed that there are plans for a workshop on marketing, to be conducted by FIFA, at the end of this year.

“We thank all the AFC officials, as well as all the Clubs, so much for coming here today. We hope to organise these workshops every year. “AIFF next plans to organise a FIFA workshop in November-December 2014 on marketing.”

‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna’ launched by Prime Minister Narender Modi on 28.08.2014 getting tremendous popularity with record 1.5 crore bank-accounts with multiple facilities and equal number of Insurance-policies issued on the very first day of its launch in user-friendly and simple manner should rather be made compulsory to get any subsidy, insurance-claim or fund-transfer by government-agencies to individuals to prevent existing loopholes resulting in draining out public-money to undeserving ones. Even subsidy on cooking-gas should be returned back in bank-accounts opened under this scheme rather than giving directly as at present. Scheme can also be used to check frauds in grabbing of insurance-claims instead of their reaching actual beneficiary.

Planners of the scheme deserve all compliments for their wisdom by incorporating a nominal amount of overdraft-facility in the scheme, because any default in re-payment may perhaps make defaulter deprived of any subsidy or monetary benefits provided under various government-schemes for ever thus saving huge amount of public-money presently spent on a subsidy-regime and populist government-schemes started either by Union or state governments. All populist loan-schemes should now be banned. Bank-managers are first given targets to distribute such small loans, and thereafter are pulled up for non-recovery because most loan-takers do not care to pay back such loans given without proper guarantee.

But such a massive scale of new bank-accounts will require vast expansion of existing banking-network costing heavily on public-sector banks. This can be avoided by merger of too many public-sector banks in some less number of big banks. Presently at many places, there are nearing bank-branches of different public-sector banks with negligible business. Merger of public-sector banks resulting in large scale cut in unnecessary banking-overheads due to too many banks will thus compensate for funds required to expand banking-network.

India taught modern Field Hockey to the World. Indian Hockey had seen glorious days right from the Olympics in 1928. Winning the Gold in all the six consecutive Olympics (from 1928 to 1956) had become a habit, nay second nature to the Indian Team. The Indian men's field hockey team is the most successful team in Olympic history with 8 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

Apart from the immortal and mercurial Major Dhyan Chand (considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time and known as the Wizard for his superb ball control), budding hockey players were born and trained to become all-time greats from the cradles of Indian Hockey – Coorg, Punjab and Pune.

As it happens with all top teams, Indian Hockey also lost its sheen gradually and started to lose ground to upcoming teams like the Europeans – the intelligent Germans and the strong Dutch. The attacking Indian 5-3-2-1 formation was countered successfully by the defensive combination and the Olympics and World Champions started tasting defeat.

The result was that the ‘National Game’ (According to an RTI reply, India has no national game) took a back seat and Cricket started gaining in popularity. The masses, whose only sporting entertainments included Hockey, were earlier glued to the then ubiquitous All India Radio, for quenching their thirst by consecutive victories in International Hockey. Subsequent successive defeats in Hockey and the steady rise of Cricket weaned away interest in the former and generated a new wave of enthusiasm in the Gentleman’s Game.

The falling stars of Hockey and the rising fortunes of Cricket and the advent of bigwigs in the administration of Cricket saw Cricket reaching great heights, especially since Team India won the World Cup in 1983. Ever since then, Indian Cricket went from strength to strength, and in spite of the controversies of Match Fixing, Cricket dislodged Hockey from the No. 1 Game in India.

Since the famous victory over the sledgers and once mighty Australians in the Tests [though the records say otherwise] and in the limited form of cricket (ODI); the incredible and sensational triumph over arch and traditional rivals Pakistan in the first edition of the World Twenty 20 Championship, and the conquest over Sri Lanka in the 2011 ODI World Cup Final, Cricket began a Golden Period in the history of Indian Games, to the unfortunate but anticipated detriment of Indian Hockey.

Indian Hockey has seen its worst days, and thanks are due in large measure, to the interference of Politics in Sports, especially in Hockey. Introduction of Astroturf and the migration of many hockey-playing Anglo-Indians to Australia coupled with the rise in India’s cricket fortunes have been major contributors to Hockey’s decline. When India gets to its winning ways once again, it will directly result in enhanced popularity for the Sport, and will attract better sponsorship, leading to promotion of Hockey. A cascading effect will be pumping of more money into the Game, subsequently more monetary rewards for the Players, like Cricketers.

Given the present state of affairs it is mired in, the only way that Indian Hockey can move is UP since, “A man, who is down below, need fear no fall”.

India has the capability to win. We have outstanding individuals who can fuse together into a fighting unit. What we lack is the Killer Instinct, which will motivate all the players to decimate the opposition, whatever be the level of the competition.

The Indians should be proud to don the India Colours, and must remember that they are playing for India, and are Indians First, Second and Last. The Captain should be a Visible Captain. He must Lead, and Lead from the Front.

All the members of the Team, including the Players, Reserves, Physio, Coach and the Administrators MUST support and encourage the Team to excel. The Role of each Player should be well defined and he must fill that role to his 100%.

Finally, the Players should keep their eyes on the ball, always. We may lose a few battles, but We Must Win The War. India Can Do It!India Must Do It!!India Will Do It!!!India Better Do It!!!!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Nav Shri Art & Culture Organisation (NSAC) has conducted "art n art" a Group Show of Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Art & Craft which was inaugurated by Mr. Vijender Sharma (Renowned Artist) and Mr. Narender Chanchal (Bhajan Samrat) in which 45 artists from all over India participated with great ebullience and zest. As NSAC is already aiming at fostering art and dedicated to the connatural value of art. It focuses at "Connecting People" and bridging the gap between the states by assembling such events. NSAC Org. rendered artists an opportunity to launch their newly artistic creation and allow them to give way to their imagination. As said by Pablo Picasso - "Everything you imagine is real". So, Organisation's motive is to enhance the charm of society towards art by giving shape to their thoughts.

Art gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves, it is something that makes us more thoughtful and well rounded humans. Art is functional and aesthetically pleasing to our eyes.

"art n art" is a powerful rostrum which proffer artist an opportunity to furnish themselves. Art of writing, art of singing or the art to impose the feelings on canvas through brushes with the help of colours, art in any form is art said by Mr. Vijender Sharma.

The Executive Committee welcomed Kalyani Group as the new Member in the forthcoming edition in the I-League and wished them success. “I believe they will bring in more professionalism in the League. Let’s not forget the manner Bengaluru FC came as a breath of fresh air in the I-League last season. The value of the I-League can be gauged from the interest it has generated among top Corporates of India, that too for two years in succession,” Mr. Patel said.

The Committee endorsed Mr. Patel’s decision and discussed at length India’s preparations for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. It was agreed the Coach of the Indian National Team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup will be signing a Contract soon for him to have a look and scout probable Indian Players for the World Cup from the final phase of the Coca Cola Cup which is to be held in November-December 2014.

The venue/dates for various upcoming Domestic Tournaments which were finalised in the Meeting stay as follows:

i. Federation Cup to be held in Goa from December 28 to January 10, 2015.ii. Senior Women’s National Championship to be held in Orissa.iii. Final Round of the Santosh Trophy to be held in Uttarakhand.

Furthermore, as proposed by Mr. AR Khaleel, the Committee decided to name the Winners Trophy of the proposed U-15 League as Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy.

Meanwhile, the Committee confirmed the minutes of the last AIFF Executive Committee Meeting which was held on May 14, 2014 at Football House.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Som Benegal, journalist, Author and poet passed away peacefully at the age of 92. He was a well known theater director in the 1950-60's and News Editor in All India Radio in the 1940’s.

A multi media specialist in the fields of Radio, Television, Exhibitions Design, and journals since 1942 he was passionate about the independence of media and served as the Secretary General of NAMEDIA.

He was known publicly for his witty one line Letters to the Editor published in major Indian newspapers and was known for his writings: "And the Old Lama Said". He also translated the Upanishads to English. His several written books include Freedom is starting point, A Panarama of Theatre in India, Theatre in India.

Till his recent retirement in 2011 at age 89, he was director at Tej Press and was writing for national newspapers and magazines. He is survived by his wife of 83 years Suman Benegal, two sons Rahul Benegal and the filmmaker Dev Benegal.

Delhi, the capital city is reeling under a water crisis, and the water woes start increasing as the summer months start approaching. The ever increasing population, concretization of all the green areas, massive deforestation, disappearance of traditional water harvesting structures and transformation of Yamuna into a sewer along with gross mismanagement of water resources by DJB has attributed to the present water crisis which has all the signs of mushrooming into a problem of mammoth proportions in the near future.

Considering the per capita requirement of 60 gallons per day, the total requirement of potable water of Delhi in 2013-2014 was 1039 MGD against which DJB produced 833 MGD of which 78.5 MGD was sourced from ranney wells and tube wells, the shortage being of 206 MGD i.e 19.8% of the total requirement.

According to the MOU signed between five basin states in May 1994, water allocation of Yamuna surface water to Delhi is .724 BCM (billion cubic meters) per year which has not been augmented for the past two decades, while the population in the same period has nearly doubled, putting pressure on the resource. In order to utilize the flow of untapped water in the monsoon season, MOU’s were signed in Nov 1994 by the basin states to build 2 dams up the river Renuka (275 MGD) in Himachal Pradesh and Kishau (372 MGD) in Uttarkhand. The GNCTD had released an amount of 214 crore in October 2008 for construction of Renuka dam to Himachal Pradesh govt for exclusive use of Delhi. The project was to be completed by November 2014, but till date the project is awaiting Forest Clearance which was denied by UPA-2 Govt.

The dispute regarding the ownership of the expected savings of 80 MGD of raw water between the Delhi and Haryana Governments over Munak Canal (which is nearly complete) is still unresolved.

This clearly indicates that there is not even an iota of hope that the supply of water for Delhi can be augmented through these projects in the near future while the population would be increasing at a rate of 1.92%.

Recently DDA has come out with a Draft Master Plan Delhi-2021, wherein it has envisioned a requirement of 1800 MGD for 23 million people in the year 2021. However, the water augmentation schedule proposed by DJB for the Draft Master Plan Delhi-2021 explicitly mentions that the capacity can be increased only to a maximum of 919 MGD from all possible sources, thus a deficit of 881 MGD. This increase in treated water supply can only be stretched to 919MGD, provided the WTP’s situated at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla receive raw water from Munak canal, and for this the dispute between Delhi and Haryana Governments has to be resolved.

The DJB is equally responsible for the water woes of Delhi. Delhi Jal Board’s dilapidated pipeline system and sub-standard management of water distribution has resulted in the mess a common Delhite finds himself in. It is a travesty that, the amount of water which can not be billed on account of transmission and distribution losses, illegal connections, water theft, metering inaccuracies etc is approx 60%. The loss of this non revenue attributed to a loss of 1389 crores in the year 2011-2012. The DJB has not come up with a visible concrete strategy to reduce the amount of this non revenue water which should be below 20 %( according to the handbook on Service Level Benchmarking). The prevalent shortage of water can be effectively countered by reducing the transmission and distribution losses which are alarmingly high. Due to the ineffective pipeline system of DJB, 24.8% households were not receiving piped treated water. The CAG report of 2013 states emphatically that these households were provided water through tankers, which was only 3.82 litres a day than the prescribed norm of 172 litres a day. The need of the hour is to lay out distribution lines at war footing.

The pumping of water into UGR’s and distribution lines is managed by 9 E&M divisions of DJB while the distribution lines are maintained by 22 civil divisions. Due to irrational assignment of jurisdictional areas to the divisions, the amount of water supplied to each division is not measurable. The DJB has neither a proper measurement system to measure the amount of water supplied to various areas nor reliable data about the population in different areas to regulate the supply of water equitably. This hap hazard allocation of jurisdictional areas to the divisions is the reason that the amount of water supplied to each division is not on account of the population residing in that particular area.

Proper distribution of jurisdictional areas to the divisions will aid in making individual Division accountable for water received, distributed, distribution losses etc. More over DJB lacks an effective management system that can indicate the real time information on the requirement, production and distribution of potable water etc at any given time. Such a management system can facilitate the DJB in providing potable water in proportion to the requirement of the area. Unless and until such management deficiencies are sorted out Delhi will continue to bear the brunt of erratic water supply.

Given the ever increasing demand of water for agriculture purposes in the basin states, it is prudent that Delhi Govt coin a long-term vision plan regarding revival of approximately 600 water bodies which are lying in various stages of neglect. The revival and integration of these water bodies in the water supply infrastructure will go a long way in recharging the ground water in the adjoining areas.

A futuristic vision detailing the broad contours of an aggressive Rain Water Harvesting Plan needs to be conceptualized and implemented strictly at the earliest by the government. Delhi receives 611 mm of rain per year and with a total land area of 1,486 sq km, has a water harvesting potential of 450 billion litres annually. If such a plan is implemented in all it’s earnest we can fulfill 35% of the water demand of Delhi through this endeavor alone.

It is high time the Govt recognizes this scarcity of water as a clear and present danger to our society and come up with a detailed action plan, not a “chalta hai” plan which we, “Delhi wallas” have always been subjected to lest Delhi would be a battleground in the near future and the prize would be a pale of water.

WHY PUBLIC PROSECUTORS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE GUILTY CONVICTED IN MAJORITY OF THE CASES HANDLED BY THEM ?????.

Rajendra DharPOLICE WATCH INDIA (Regd. NGO).

Lots of mails keep poring in from the aggrieved wanting to know as to why Public Prosecutors are not able to get the guilty convicted in majority of the cases that they handle and as to who is responsible for the dismally low rate of conviction in India.

"POLICE WATCH INDIA" after carefully analysing the issue raised by the aggrieved, briefly would like to advise steps that are necessary to counter this serious problem especially in the interest of those aggrieved who never get justice which is otherwise due to them as a matter of right.

We are sure that will agree that ideally the conviction rate in criminal cases fought by the state should be hundred percent. The present low conviction rate only shows enormous waste of public money and valuable working hours of the courts.

The problem does not lie with the public prosecutors as much as with the investigating officers commonly known as I.O.s & the S.H.O.S., as every S.H.O. Is more than fully responsible for the action & deeds of his subordinates irrespective of the fact whether their action & deeds are deliberate or otherwise. However it has been observed that mostly it is deliberate & there are obvious reasons for that.

It should be remembered that a state is expected not to take a citizen to court unless it is reasonably sure of his conviction. It is not only a great waste of state resources and time but is also a gross violation of human rights in many cases. The state cannot take away the liberty of a citizen without proper reasons.

A thorough investigation and presenting credible evidence to the government pleader to fight the case with, is the responsibility of the investigating agency. What the police department in many cases does is make some hurried arrests of persons, at times innocents, calling them masterminds of the crime.

The media is given the impression that the case is cracked. In fact, many a times detainees are scapegoats and it becomes the Government Pleader’s lot to fight the case with the half baked chargesheets full of gaping holes. It is the government pleader who has, then, to cringe under the glare of a judge when he is asked, “Do you call this evidence?”. The case, with passage of time goes cold, the culprits living happily ever after.

The remedy for the poor rate of conviction is thorough investigation directed towards solving the case. Indepth investigation (not superficial as is usually done) simultaneously at all possible levels and from all possible angles and quickly arrive at a logical/legally valid conclusion keeping sure shot conviction uppermost in mind.

Importantly there should be no delay as vital clues especially from forensic point of view may be lost. To conduct sustained interrogation of the suspects/accused so as to make the case against the accused absolutely foolproof.

To conduct sustained interrogation of any other source/person/informer, discreetly from whom any such information can be elicited which may prove an important/missing link in solving/cracking the Criminal Case being so investigated.

To avoid involvement of witnesses, as far as possible as, at times the I.O. may encounter tutored witnesses, witnesses who may be bought and sold, cowed down at a later date, especially witnesses who are aged and may or may not survive to depose before a Court of Law, thus weakening the case against the accused.

To obtain/seize/collect all types of conceivable evidence direct, indirect, movable, immovable etc. that is legally necessary to nail the guilty so as to ensure his/her conviction in a Court of Law.

Keeping in mind the tactics adopted by errant & corrupt I.O.s & S.H.O.s it has become absolutely necessary that every Final Investigation Report, Chargesheet alongwith supporting evidence is vetted by an Independent Investigations Auditor (A person who is not subordinate to the Police Department) before the same are produced before the Trail Court Judge.

It will not be out of context to mention the fact that isolated cases of Public Prosecutors being errant & corrupt have also come to the fore.

If there is any such substance/matter in a Criminal Complaint which is not understood by the I.O., to take the help and assistance of any such person/agency who may be helpful in cracking/solving the case even if, the Police and/or any other law enforcing authority has to pay for the services of such person/agency as it is important that the guilty must be punished at all costs.

WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S WEAPON IS EVIDENCE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT WEAPON MUST BE ASCERTAINED THOROUGHLY BEFORE THE CASE GOES TO COURT ONLY THEN SURE SHOT CONVICTION IS POSSIBLE.